The ultrasound screen gave instant clarity to Zoua. She came to our center last spring, almost certain that she was pregnant but wanting an ultrasound before making a decision about what to do next. As she watched her child move and breathe, she needed no further evidence. 

“I’m an avid couponer. I received some free diapers because of my couponing, and I was planning to sell them online but never got around to it. I needed to clear some space in my house, so I decided to try to donate them quickly. I remembered the Center, so I stopped by and dropped them off.” 

It had been a long time since Katie’s last visit. Rewind 24 years: 

“I was 18 years old and had just returned to Minnesota to live with my parents. Before that time, I had been living in Florida with my grandparents. My grandpa was an Anglican priest.” 

Soon after her move to Minnesota, Katie found herself taking a home pregnancy test. She was wildly relieved to find the line on the test read ‘negative’. But later in the day, as she searched her garbage can for a missing sales receipt, she glanced down and saw that the same test now showed a positive reading. 

Our Learn and Earn program gives moms an opportunity to earn items for their babies while they learn about pregnancy and parenting.  Four days a week, our client advocates meet with mothers in the program to review lessons and to offer additional support. 

Ella came in for an ultrasound but because it was early in her pregnancy, it was difficult to see her baby on the screen. She told us that she was leaning towards having an abortion --

Chloe’s voice was full of panic: “This is NOT a good time,” she firmly declared. “I have a one-bedroom apartment, a two-year old son. . . I’ll have to move—again. I feel sick all the time. There’s just too much to balance as a single mother. I’m not with the father anymore. I just need to get an abortion.”